Celtic’s defeat at Aston Villa didn’t make that much of a difference in the big Champions League picture.
Celtic were still in the draw for the playoffs with the Premier League club, however, Aston Villa were playing for a top-eight finish with the Bhoys also having a slim chance of making the Champions League automatic places.
Celtic put up a battling performance in Villa Park but wound up running out of steam after Brendan Rodgers threw in some Hoops academy players after losing Cameron Carter-Vickers to injury, Daizen Maeda to suspension and Kyogo Furuhashi to Rennes.
Brendan Rodgers had to defend Celtic and Scottish football after learning people in England look down on the SPFL and, it seems, that the Parkhead club’s performance at Villa Park has certainly changed the English media’s perspective on the Scottish champions.
‘Frustrations boiled over in the stands’ as Celtic battled back vs Aston Villa
Reporting on the game, England’s media seem to have changed their tune on Celtic as they praised the Parkhead club after they ‘burst into life’ against Aston Villa.
Sky Sports: “After Alistair Johnston scrambled back to clear Ollie Watkins’ effort off the line Celtic burst into life. McGinn, on for the injured Matty Cash, got in the way of Greg Taylor’s cross and it fell to Idah to fire into the net.
“The striker had a point to prove following Kyogo’s departure to Rennes he smashed in another after a lovely move from Arne Engles allowed Reo Hatate to roll the ball to him in the six-yard box.”
The Independent: “Frustrations boiled over in the stands, with plentiful Celtic fans in the home end enjoying their opportunity to wind up some English folk.
“Away supporters in their official seats danced a Celtic jig all interval, with Villans dumbfounded as to how their team had let such a comfortable position slip.”
Celtic ‘stunned’ Aston Villa and ‘make a mockery’ of Champions League critics
Whilst many Celtic fans were hopeful of pulling off a positive result at Villa, it seems that a win was taken for granted amongst many inside England’s media.
BBC: “Celtic played on the edge of chaos as they pressed and tried to move the ball quickly. At times it worked, but there were also a lot of mistakes.
“Dortmund aside, Celtic have been competitive and adaptable throughout this campaign, and reaching the play-off round is just rewards for that.”
The Guardian: “Celtic stunned Villa after recovering from an early two-goal deficit to level but Ollie Watkins registered his first goal in the competition to nudge Villa in front and then missed a penalty to put the game to bed midway through the second half.
“There were nervous glances when Idah extended his right leg to hook in Greg Taylor’s cross, diverted into the former Norwich striker’s path via John McGinn, whose attempted clearance backfired.
“Then Villa cracked, Idah converting from the edge of the six‑yard box to cap a slick move and make a mockery of those who presumed Villa would simply swat aside the Scottish champions.”
Celtic will find out tomorrow afternoon who they will face in the next round. Whether it be Bayern Munich or Real Madrid the fans can be assured that their team will not roll over and make it easy as Rodgers looks to progress to the last 16 of the competition.
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